According to Georgia Tourism, the state has nearly 100 waterfalls and more are discovered each day. The biggest cluster is found in North Georgia. There's even a mobile application called "North Georgia Waterfalls," which makes it even easier to find these cascading treasures. Here's a list of five waterfalls with something special to offer.
Amicalola Falls
Amicalola Falls means "tumbling waters" in Cherokee. Located in the northeast Georgia mountains north of Dawsonville, there are a few trail options, from short to an 8-mile trek, to get to the waterfalls. But what makes these falls really stand out is that it is Georgia's tallest waterfall at more than 700 feet. It is a very popular site, so getting there early will help you beat the crowd.
Amicalola Falls, 418 Amicalola Falls Lodge Road, Dawsonville, Ga. 30534, 706-344-1500
Fees: $5 parking
gastateparks.org/AmicalolaFalls
Hurricane Falls at Tallulah Gorge
Plan to spend the entire day at Tallulah Gorge State Park, where there are six falls to gaze at in the 2,689-acre state park. The gorge is nearly 2 miles long and 1,000 feet deep. It will require some moderate to hard trekking, and the most difficult one has the most majestic experience. It is 535 steps to reach the bottom of the gorge, and just over 300 steps to reach the 80-foot suspension bridge. Here's where you'll see epic views of Hurricane Falls as they rush from the right side, under and through to the left side of the bridge.
Tallulah Gorge State Park, 338 Jane Hurt Yarn Road, Tallulah Falls, Ga. 30573, 706-754-7981
Fees: $5 parking
Helton Creek Falls
Helton Creek Falls is located in Blairsville in the Chattahoochee National Forest south of Blairsville, Ga. There you'll find two waterfalls and it's a pretty simple .2-mile trail walk to get there. You can swim in the pool at the bottom of the falls, making this a perfect family-friendly outdoor adventure.
Helton Creek Falls, Helton Creek Road, Blairsville, Ga. 30512, 706-745-6928
Fees: free
www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/conf/recarea/?recid=10546
Toccoa Falls
Located on the campus of Toccoa College, the trek to Toccoa Falls is probably easiest among those on the list, just 100 yards. Park outside of the gift shop, and from the gift shop, it is just a short walk along the stream to the base of the falls. The waterfall is a 186-foot drop.
Toccoa Falls, 107 Kincaid Drive, Toccoa Falls, Ga. 30598, 706-886-6831
Fees: Children 6 and under: Free, Adults: $2, Seniors: $1, Family of 4 or more: $6, free parking.
Anna Ruby Falls
Located in the Chattahoochee National Forest in Helen, Ga., these falls are accessible from a light to moderate half-mile trail. The magic moment is the view of the twin waterfalls from Curtis Creek (falls 150 feet) and York Creek (falls 50 feet) that merge to form Smith Creek. These falls are friendly for those with disabilities with the .15-mile Lion's Eye interpretive trail that leads to another view of the falls.
Anna Ruby Falls, 3455 Anna Ruby Falls Road, Helen, Ga. 30545, 706-878-1448
Fees: 16 and older $3.00, Under 16 free, free parking
